Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-06-09
REPUBLICAN DOCTRINE.
The Political Issues Of the Day as Defined
Senator Sherman.

Senator John Sherman spoke to an
immense audience at Springfield, H.,
June 1. His speech on ''the political
issues of the yay" was mainly devoted
to a comparison of the two great par
ties of this country on the records they
have made.
1.-The principles of the two parties, :"
he said, ''are the outgrowth of the con-
test over the institution of slavery that
has continued since the commencement
of the Government, but it was not until
the repeal of the Missouri Compromise.
and the great debate that occurred in
Illinois between Abraham Lincoln and
Stephen A. Douglas, that the philoso-
ply of slavery was fully presented be-
fore popular audiences. 1t was this
debate that led to the nomination of
Mr.. Lincoln and made him the first
Republican President of the United
States
Then also was shown the destructive
tendencies of the institution of slavery
and its mastery over the Democratic
party. Because Mr.. Douglas would
not agree to its extreme demand it
broke up the Charleston Convention
and destroyed his last hope OF success.
When Lincoln was elected it fired upon
Fort Sumpter and commenced the war
that covered our land with heroic dead
and left among us hundreds of thous-
ands Of manned wounded and invalid
soldiers and the widows of those who
persisted. But thank God, IN this strug-
gle slavery committed suicide, and the
good time which Lincoln hoped would
come in the far future. came by the at
tempt at secession, and it was his hand
that wrote the decree of eternal justice
that'abolished slavery forever.
1t was the Republican party that
guided The ship of State through the
peris and storms of civil war. 1t mar
shaled armies, built navies, lmproviSed
currency which to this day is the
best ever devised in peace or war. 1t
borrowed immense sums of money, and
yet laid the foundation of a public
credit higher in the markets of the
world than that of any nation in our
own or in ancient times. 1t also estab-
lished a public policy of taxation which,
improved since the war, has filled our
Treasury to over flowing with revenue.
and yet has SO encouraged, developed,
fostered and protected our industries
that we can Dig from our mines, make in
our own workshops and raise on our
own farms all the raw products of ma
ture, and every article of necessity,
convenience or luxury essential 10 the
highest civilization"
While conceding that many thousand
Democrats did their full share in main
tanning the government, he said that
the party as whole was the represen-
tative of all the disloyal elements of our
country.
at gathered in its folds Knights of
the Golden Circle, the mob of rioters of
New York and the bounty jumpers and
shirks. 1t held reasonable correspond
ence with rebel emmssarieS on our
Canadian border and conveyed intelli-
gence to the enemy in most critical per-
iods of the war. 1t availed itself of the
apathy of critical moments and seized
upon the temporary advantage caused
by the issuing of the proclamation Of
President Lincoln and the absence of
our soldiers in the field, snatched vic
tories ut the elections with view to
cripple and weaken the Administration
and next to the armed forces under
Gen. Lee, was the most dangerous en-
envy of the republic during the fearful
four years struggle of our civil war 1t
sought under the cry of illegal arrests,
10 make prominent citizen of Ohio,
who had melted riots and resistance to
the draft, Governor of Ohio. 1t met in
conclave at Chicago when Gen Grant
was lighting his way in the Wilderness
and Gen. Sherman was At the gates of
Atlanta. and declared the war failure,
demanded peace on any terms and
cessation of hostlities, and placed
upon this platform q Union soldier of
merit, who promptly and in emphatic
language, in his letter OF acceptance,
Tepudiated the disloyal position in which
the platform sought to place him. |
doubt if the civil history of any govern
ment presents more unpatriotic and
dshonorable position than that occupi-
ed by the Northern wing of the Demo-
cratic party during the civil war While
patriotic Democrats were following the
advice of Douglas and the example of
Logan, aud side bv side with the Re-
publican hosts were fighting to preserve
the Union, the remnant of the North
ern Democracy, in possession of the
party organization, used it practically
in aid OF tho Rebellion.
AS to the Southern wing of the Dem
ocraiic party, they ut least had during
the war the courage of their convictions.
Led bv false theories and local pride
into armed resistance, they did main
tain their cause with even more than
the courage and sacrifices of the Loyal
lists of La Ecndre. While c0ndemnirg
their cause we can respect their fidelity
10 it and the sincerity of their motives.
But, in spite of all, rebels and copper
heads combined, in spite of English
cruisers under rebel flags and English
cannon, arms and ammunition the I'M
ion armies prevailed. Lincoln was re.
elected, army after army surrendered
TO Gen. Grant, the Union WAS restored
and the flag of our country waved IN
undisputed authority from Virginia to
Texas. One blow was yet to be struck,
and that was by the hand of an assas-
sin, inspired by the fanatcism of the
rebellion Lincoln was killed when his
heart was full of gratitude to God, gen.
orOSitv To vanquished rebels and good
will to ali men The veteran armies of
the Union We're rapidly disbanded
Many of you, no doubt, witnessed, and
some of you, no doubt, marched in the
grandest pageant of modern times, the
review of the armies of Gen Grant and
Gen. Sherman in the streets of Wash
ington and their return TO their homes.
Let us pause ut the end of the war
and imagine with what feeling these re-
turning soldiers would have received
the prophecy that. within twenty years,
the same elements of hostility 10 the
Union cause, the same alliance between
the Confederates and their sympathiz-
ers would be in possession of the Pres
idential Office and in substantial control
Of the Government; that the slaves.
though nominally free. were deprived.
by unlawful means, of all political pow
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